In 2020 and 2021, sports cards experienced a boom in the market. Values increased anywhere from 10x to 20x their original worth, and no one could say why. Some speculated that it was due to the pandemic, others believed that it was because of new technology that allowed for more detailed tracking of player statistics. However, no one could agree on a definitive answer. In this article, we will explore the five factors that most likely led to this sports card market boom and what it means for investors and collectors alike. Stay tuned for our evaluation of current sports card prices and what you can expect in 2023!

The sports card market boom was largely driven by nostalgia. People have been collecting sports cards for over 100 years, and during times of economic uncertainty many investors turn to something that is familiar and holds sentimental value. In addition, the past few years saw a renewed focus on sports gaming among young adults which created an entirely new market of sports card collectors.

The second factor of the sports card market boom was the emergence of sports card grading services. Companies like PSA and Beckett offer collectors and investors assurance that their sports cards are authentic and in top condition, allowing them to be sold for high prices. This service also created a sense of trust in the sports card market, further driving the boom.

Third, sports card manufacturers took advantage of this surge in sports card collecting and invested in the production of sports cards with rare inserts and autographs from sports icons like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Tom Brady. This created an opportunity for investors to purchase sports cards that are sure to appreciate in value over time.

Fourth, sports card companies and sports teams began to partner up, offering customers special sports cards in exchange for tickets or merchandise. This gave sports fans an exciting incentive to collect sports cards, adding to the already high demand.

Finally, new technologies such as blockchain were used to track sports card ownership and create league-wide sports card marketplaces. This allowed sports card owners to easily buy, sell and trade sports cards with each other.

The sports card market saw a historic 10x-20x increase in value over the last two years. It is clear that many factors have contributed to this success, from traditional investments to innovative technology.

Here are the top five factors that led to sports cards becoming one of the hottest investments in 2020 and 2021:

1. Traditional sports card investing – Sports card collecting has been around for decades, with rare sports cards being sought-after by collectors. With sports cards increasing in value due to their rarity and collectability, investors began buying up sports cards in anticipation of future gains.

2. Online sports card marketplaces – With the rise of E-commerce, sports cards were able to be bought and sold online through marketplace websites such as eBay and COMC or sports cards forums such as Sports Card Forum. This allowed investors to purchase sports cards from anywhere in the world, driving up demand and prices of sports cards.

3. Media coverage – Sports card collecting was put in the spotlight due to sports media outlets such as ESPN and Bleacher Report covering sports card news and celebrity sports card collections, driving more people towards sports cards as investments.

4. Celebrity sports card investors – High profile investors such as Michael Jordan and Rob Gronkowski increased the appeal of sports cards to sports fans, who drove up sports card prices due to their FOMO (fear of missing out).

5. Collectibility – Sports cards are unique and collectible items, making them a desirable item for sports fans and collectors. The rarity of certain sports card sets has made them even more desirable, driving prices even higher as they become increasingly hard to find.

The sports card market is a booming industry right now and shows no signs of slowing down in the near future. Prices are still on an upward trajectory with some sports cards worth 10x-20x their original value since 2020. With the factors listed above continuing to influence sports card prices, it is uncertain what will be the peak of sports cards.

The current sports card market is highly optimistic and people are investing in sports cards as if they were stocks on Wall Street. For those looking to make a quick buck, sports cards may not be the most reliable investment right now. Despite this, many sports card collectors and hobbyists have seen fantastic returns on sports cards since 2020.

Next Article